By LERWICK, Shetland Islands — A rocket exploded in a massive fireball just seconds after ignition during a test launch at the UK’s new SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Isles on Monday evening, officials reported.
The incident, involving a nine-engine rocket developed by German firm Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), occurred during a hot fire test of the first stage at the northernmost spaceport in the British Isles.
Eyewitness footage shows large flames and thick plumes of smoke erupting from the base of the rocket before engulfing the entire vehicle. The dramatic failure highlights the challenges faced in developing new space launch capabilities.
In a statement released shortly after the incident, RFA acknowledged an “anomaly” that led to “the loss of the stage.” The company emphasized that no injuries were reported, and the immediate danger had been mitigated.
“On Monday evening, Rocket Factory Augsburg conducted a hot fire of its first stage at their launch site at SaxaVord Spaceport,” the statement read. “This resulted in an anomaly that led to the loss of the stage. No one was injured in the process.”
RFA further noted that the launch pad had been secured and the situation was under control. The company is now working closely with spaceport officials and relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the failure.
Highlighting their development philosophy, an RFA spokesperson stated, “We develop iteratively with an emphasis on real testing. This is part of our philosophy, and we were aware of the higher risks attached to this approach.”
Despite the setback, RFA expressed its intention to resume regular operations as soon as possible, promising to keep the public updated through their communication channels.
SaxaVord Spaceport, located on the island of Unst in Shetland, is positioning itself as a key player in the UK’s emerging commercial space industry. A spokesperson for the spaceport commented on the incident, saying, “This was a test, and test campaigns are designed to identify issues prior to the next stage. We will work with RFA to understand and learn from the causes and support them as they move forward to the next phase of their preparations.”
The explosion at SaxaVord comes at a crucial time for the UK space sector, which has been working to establish domestic launch capabilities. The incident underscores the technical challenges and risks associated with rocket development and testing, even as the country aims to become a major player in the global space economy.
As investigations into the cause of the explosion continue, industry observers will be watching closely to see how this event impacts the timeline for future launches from UK soil. The outcome of this inquiry could have significant implications for the development of Britain’s space infrastructure and its ability to compete in the increasingly crowded commercial space launch market.
For now, both RFA and SaxaVord Spaceport officials emphasize their commitment to safety and continuous improvement as they work towards their goal of establishing regular launch operations from the Shetland site.
